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Kiwi cop Matt Ratana named BBC Sports Personality of the Year Unsung Hero
20 Dec, 2020 10:58 PM
2 minutes to read
NZ Herald
A former New Zealand Police officer killed on the frontline has been awarded the BBC Sports Personality Unsung Hero award.
Metropolitan Police Officer Sergeant Matiu (Matt) Ratana died after being shot in his chest after being fired at several times by a suspect in handcuffs inside a Croydon police station in September.
Today his partner Lisa received the award, saying her hero would have felt humbled by it. Matt was a very special man. Definitely one of a kind who touched so many peoples lives through his rugby, gym, friends and love and passion for the great game of rugby. He lit up every room and every pitch with his presence, enthusiasm and smile.
“The story with Matt, as with most Kiwis, is that he was such a loveable character,” she said. “What I liked about him and his story was not only his background and where he was from, but also who he was as a person. He put so much of himself back into the community, and he often helped out young people in need.”
EAST GRINSTEAD RFC/Supplied
Rugby coach and UK Metropolitan Police Sergeant Matt Ratana, originally from New Zealand, was killed in the line of duty in London. Deciding that she wanted to do something to help contribute to Ratana’s legacy, and with a move to her fiance’s home country already on the horizon, she figured her stint in managed isolation would be the perfect time to take on a new challenge.